CasteWatchUK's
history

CasteWatchUK was formed in 2003. It was formally launched in
July 2004 and registered as a Charity with the Charity
Commission in February 2005. Building on the momentum created
by the BBC Radio 4 programme broadcast in April and again in
May 2003 entitled ‘Caste Divide in Britain, CasteWatchUK has
been in the forefront in raising awareness of Caste based
Discrimination occurring in the UK.

CasteWatchUK has achieved national and international
recognition as the one of the leading champions of Caste
related issues in UK.
It works alone and in partnership with a number of academic
institutions, politicians, community groups and organisations
promoting the rights of those who are victims of caste
discrimination in the UK, including the Dalit Solidarity
Network (UK) and Voice of Dalit International to tackle Caste
based Discrimination in the UK.

CasteWatchUK’s achievements include our:

·input into the “Strength In
Diversity Consultations” Home Office White Paper consultation
in 2004

·constructive meeting with the Department for Education and
Skills in March 2005 to raise awareness of Casteism

·key input into the Department for International Development
(DFID) / DSN organised conference in October 04 and again on
27 June 2007
in seminar at DFID to raise
awareness about the plight of Dalits in
India and the need for the British Government to effectively
target international aid.

·lobbying of 200 MPs by letter asking them to signup to an
Early Day Motion (EDM) 346 in 2004 on Caste issues. This
contributed to a 12½% increase in the MPs signing up in
support of the EDM.

·participation in a number of live radio discussions on
Caste including on Sangat Radio, under the topic “Does
Casteism have a place in Sikhism”, BBC Network discussions on
report by Human Rights Watch about the hidden apartheid of
Discrimination against Dalits in India.

·participation in the SOAS Conference on Caste and its impact
on the Valmiki community.

·formation of CasteAwayArts in February 2006 as an arts wing
of CasteWatchUK which began work on a play based on real life
experiences of Caste Discrimination.

·collaboration with Dalit Solidarity Network
(UK) in 2007 to formulate the strategy to make submission to
the Parliamentary Discrimination Law Review.

·successful conference in
July 2007 at the Sandwell Conference under the theme ‘Fighting
Caste Discrimination in the UK’.

·submission to the Cohesion and Faiths Unit,
Communities and Local Government in response to their
questionnaire on Caste in the UK
in August 2007.

·successful conference at the
Palace of Westminster under the theme ‘Caste and UK
Discrimination Law’ in November 2007 which attracted over 100
participants and three MP speakers

·participation in the Annual General Meeting of
West Midland Branch of Trade Union “Unison” in December 2007
and where we successfully raised awareness about Caste
Discrimination in places of employment in the UK.

“Don’t start these f***ing things. Low caste shall always
remain low caste. If you put holy mark on a crow, it cannot
change into a swan. Just because you are in England, you
cannot become English. You were always dogs, you are still
dogs and you would always be dogs.”

Two special rapporteurs, Mr Yozo Yokota and Ms Chin-Sung Chung,
appointed by
The Sub Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human
Rightsto
carry out a detailed investigation into discrimination based
on work and descent over the next three years.

CasteWatchUK noted as a respondee in
a summary of responses to a consultation. A copy of the
strategy Improving Opportunity Strengthening Society that was
launched by Racial Equality Unit of Home Office.

Mandrika Rupa from New Zealand interviews CasteWatchUK for her
documentary on Caste Discrimination in UK.

September 2006

CasteWatchUK in SHAP Journal 2006-07 - World Religions in
Education

October 2006

Professor Paul Ghuman of Abryswyth University, joins
CasteWatchUK.

CasteWatchUK joins DSNUK in a meeting at House of Parliament
and forms a working group to seek the inclusion of clauses in
the forthcoming Single Equality Bill to make Caste
Discrimination unlawful in the UK.

You can
help by becoming a member of CasteWatchUK and join a team of committed
volunteers who not only have a sense of social responsibility but also
see it as their duty to promote social equality and social justice.